Hookah Bowl

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes a hookah bowl having a reservoir that catches massell constituents before they accumulate in a hookah stem or base. The reservoir is positioned below bowl apertures and around a bowl spire that leads to a stem.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority under 35U.S.C. § 120 from, U.S. patent application 16/015,185 titled Hookah Bowland filed Jun. 22, 2018 and the disclosure of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field tobacco smoking devices andmore specifically to the field of hookahs.

BACKGROUND

Of the many proud traditions of Ottoman culture, few have achieved theworld-wide fame of hookah smoking. Once confined to the Middle East andNear East regions, the hookah's notoriety was invigorated by Napoleon'sinvasion of Egypt and the stream of curious Westerners which followedthereafter. Painters, such as Eugene Delacroix and Jean-Leon Gerome,when depicting Oriental styles typically included a hookah as a symbolof the depicted culture. The hookah was elevated from a regionalcuriosity to a universal symbol of sophistication.

The hookah, which has maintained a constant popularity in the MiddleEast, presently enjoys in American culture a unique, niched function.Hookah smoking combines community and relaxation into a single event.Rarely does one witness a group smokers crowded about a singlecigarette, cigar, or pipe. Though hookahs are often designed with asingle smoke outlet; the presence of multiple hoses, each capable ofsimultaneous use, emanating from a single smoking instrument is uniqueto the hookah. Multiple hose hookahs form the centerpieces of hookahclubs in which hookah smokers gather to unwind and converse with othercommunity members. A hookah combines fashion, art, and function into asingle device.

A basic hookah includes a base, a pipe, at least one hose with amouthpiece, and a bowl. The hookah bowl holds the hookah tobacco,frequently “massell.” Massell is a mixture of tobacco, molasses, andoften a flavor or fruit extract. The molasses and fruit extract add asubstantial amount of moisture to the massell that is missing inconventional tobacco. This added moisture makes massell more sensitiveto the elements relative to conventional tobacco; prolonged exposure toair evaporates much of the moisture of massell and reduces its flavor.When properly protected, massell allows a smoker a more recreational,flavored smoke than the tobacco of cigars, cigarettes, pipes, and thelike. An experienced hookah smoker will know to loosely distributemassell into a pile within the hookah bowl to allow heat to evenlycirculate through the pile.

The heat that ignites the massell derives from coals positioned abovethe hookah bowl. The coals and massell preferably never contact one tothe other. A common method of placing coals proximate to the massellinvolves spreading a foil upon the top of a hookah bowl, punching holesin the foil, and then placing the coals onto the foil. The heat from thelighted coals travels through the holes in the foil to ignite portionsof the massell. Particulates from the massell travel in the smokecreated by the ignition down through the hookah bowl into the hookahpipe.

The hookah pipe is the body of a hookah and is usually fabricated frombrass, tin, or stainless steel. The pipe transports the massell smokefrom the bowl to the hookah base, which is a cavern containing water.The base of the hookah is typically fabricated of glass or plastic andtends to be the most expressive portion of the hookah, ranging fromtranslucent to wildly-colored. Within the cavern of the hookah base, themassell smoke is cooled by the water within. The cooled massell smokethen returns to the back to the pipe, though not through the sameentrance by which the massell smoke enters the base. From the pipe, themassell smoke travels through the hose and out of the mouthpiece.

There are presently two prominent versions of hookah structures: theLebanese style and the Egyptian style. Although the aficionado willexplain that there are many differences between the two styles, thepractical layman would quickly note the obvious difference: theconnection point between the pipe and the hookah bowl. The Egyptianstyle hookah pipe tapers upward into what is generally referred to as amale connection. The Egyptian style hookah bowl includes a femaleconnection which receives the pipe's male connection. In the Lebanesestyle hookah the bowl has the tapered male connection and the pipe hasthe female connection to accept the Lebanese style hookah bowl. In bothstyles, to allow a more airtight connection a collar is generally addedto fit around the male connection.

The use to which hookahs are put tarnishes them in a way not faced byother tobacco implements. Massell is wildly different from other formsof tobacco. Massell is wet, sticky, and vibrant; and when smoked, theconstituents of massell litter the bowl, stem, and base. Bowls arealmost an afterthough; their costs are insubstantial in relation to theother hookah components, and subsequent to smoking the exterior of thebowls could require cleaning with damp cloth (or chemical-basedcleaner). The stems of hookahs should be cleaned subsequent to use, butbecause stems are often elongate components with minimal interior space,stems are infrequently cleaned—and often cleaned inadequately. Becausestems are often made of metal, prolonged contact with the chemicals ofmassell, including those having underwent ignition-based chemicalreactions, can accelerate the deterioration of the stems. Hookah basesoften are manufactured of delicate materials with intricate surfacedesigns. The application of chemicals having the strength to cleanmassell constituents can harm the hookah bases and relegate moreexpensive hookahs to the shelf or restrict them to use with a narrowrange of massell products.

What is needed is a tobacco bowl that can be used to halt the flow ofmassell constituents beyond the tobacco bowl. A tobacco bowl thatprotects the other hookah components would expand the range of use ofhookahs with tobacco products, extend the life of hookahs, and minimizethe necessity of (and severity of chemicals needed to) cleaning hookahs.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a hookah bowl. The hookah bowlincludes a tobacco platform and a bowl shell. The bowl tobacco platformincludes a substantially radial platform aperture network flanking acentral solid portion. The aperture network includes one or more holesin the platform that allows tobacco smoke to seep further into thehookah bowl and on to the hookah stem. The hookah bowl shell ispositioned below the bowl platform and houses a reservoir placed belowthe aperture network such that drippings from the platform fall into thereservoir. The reservoir includes a floor laterally-enclosed within theshell and a central spire, extending from the floor toward the platformand positioned centrally within a projection of the aperture network.The projection includes a projection sidewall formed around a dry smokeaperture that leads to the hookah. A hookah stem contact port liesbeneath the spire.

The hookah may include a spire that is bifurcated into separable parts.The spire can include peripheral inlets rather than an open top thataccepts dry smoke.

These aspects of the invention are not meant to be exclusive.Furthermore, some features may apply to certain versions of theinvention, but not others. Other features, aspects, and advantages ofthe present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art when read in conjunction with the followingdescription, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the bowl of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a lower perspective view of the bowl of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side, revealed view of the bowl of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an upper, separated perspective view of the bowl of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a lower, separated perspective view of the bowl of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is an upper, cutaway perspective view of the bowl of the presentinvention. FIG. 4 is a view of

FIG. 7 is an upper, cutaway, exploded perspective view of the bowl ofthe present invention.

FIG. 8 is an upper perspective view of the platform of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a top, plan view of the platform of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a lower, plan view of the platform of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an upper perspective view of the shell of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a top, plan view of the platform of the shell of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a lower, plan view of the platform of the shell of thepresent invention.

FIG. 14 is a side, exploded view of the bowl of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a revealed, exploded view of the bowl of the presentinvention.

FIG. 16 is a partially exposed view of the bowl of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 is a partially exposed view of the bowl of the presentinvention.

FIG. 18 is an upper, exploded view of the bowl of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an upper, perspective view of the bowl of the presentinvention.

FIG. 20 is a lower, perspective view of the bowl of the presentinvention.

FIG. 21 is a side, revealed view of the bowl of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a side, revealed view of the bowl of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a side, partially-exposed view of the bowl of the presentinvention.

FIG. 24 is an upper, perspective view of the bowl of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, a basic embodiment of the hookah bowl 100 isshown. The present invention is directed to a hookah bowl. The hookahbowl may be manufactured of any material suitable for the creation ofhookah bowls. The preferred material for the construction of the presentinvention includes a metal to permit substantial re-usability of thehookah bowl and sustained constant heating of the tobacco bowl. Becausemetals are often disfavored in the use of tobacco, because an forgetfuluser may place his hand in direct contact with the tobacco bowl, bumpers190 constructed of a pliable plastic are used in the preferredembodiment to shield human hands from direct contact with a heated bowl100.

The preferred bowl 100 is separable into at least two portions, aplatform 110 and a shell 120. The bowl 100 may constructed as a unitarystructure, however, when a separable bowl 100 leads to advantageousfeatures. For example, a bowl 100 that is removable as depicted in FIGS.1-7 permits direct access into the interior of the bowl 100 that wouldotherwise lack a direct route for cleaning many surface portions of thebowl. The point of separation is not a necessary feature of the presentinvention either, although the preferred separation is depicted in FIGS.1-7. Even in unitary bowls, it is nonetheless worthwhile for purposes ofexplanation to discuss the bowl in the conceptual components of aplatform 110 and a shell 120.

The platform 110 of the present invention is the portion of the hookahbowl that accepts tobacco or other substance for smoking. The platformof the present invention may include any configuration that achieves thepurposes of the present invention; because a traditional hookah bowlconfiguration is generally acceptable, except with certain features ofthe present invention, the traditional hookah bowl configuration islargely utilized. The preferred platform 110 includes a fence 102, afloor 104, 106, and an aperture network 112. The fence 102 ensures thattobacco placed upon the platform stays on the platform—without beingurged over the side. Hookahs are often top-heavy smoking implements andcarrying hookahs frequently includes a swaying top. The platform 110includes an aperture network 112 which is simply a network of one ofmore apertures. The present disclosure discusses apertures as a“network” for the simple reason that the number and size of theapertures are less important than the fact that one or more are presentand configured roughly around the bowl platform. For the preferredembodiment of the present invention 4-8 holes circularly arranged at anapproximate midpoint between the center of the platform and the fenceworks admirably; however, the hookah arts now feature multiple aperturesolutions, including a one continuous aperture about a raised surface ormultiple apertures arranged throughout the platform floors, etc. Any ofthe these configurations capable of being used with the presentinvention is acceptable, except as will be explained in greater detaillater, the position of apertures in concert with the spire issignificant in achieving the advantages of the present invention.

The floor(s) of the platform 110 are of key concern. Specifically, theplatform 110 utilizes an inner floor 106 and an outer floor 104. Inbowls 100 as depicted in FIGS. 1-7, the inner floor 106 and other floor104 are readily demarcated by a raised protrusion 108 in which thepreferred aperture network is arranged. In embodiments lacking a basisof demarcation the difference between the inner floor 106 and the outerfloor 104 hangs on the question of aperture location. The inner floor106 lacks apertures that (i) permit access through the platform and onto the hookah, and (ii) is positioned directly above (or substantiallyabove) the sole means of gaseous transport from the tobacco bowl to thehookah stem. To properly understand the significance of the inner floor106, the advantages of the present invention should be analyzed.

When smoking a hookah a user combusts coal positioned above a tobaccobowl that then heats tobacco placed within the bowl. The tobacco isusually covered so that the sole direction of travel for the tobaccosmoke is down into the hookah body. Hookah tobacco is very unusualtobacco; hookah tobacco is a mixture of tobacco and various flavoringsand binding agents and other specialty, proprietary materials.Furthermore, massell, unlike cigarette tobacco, comes commercially toend users via a variety of small and medium sized sources, many of whichare amateurs in the field of hookah tobacco. Constituents of massell maybe resistant to burning by nature or because of the poor processes ofthe manufacturer. So much of the massell can be lost by dripping downinto the stem of the conventional hookah creating a mess that clogs,deforms, tarnishes, and/or interferes with the airflow within a hookahstem. Clogged stems can require a hookah to be disassembled during useor otherwise be unavailable for use. The adherent substances in massell,when isolated in the harsh environment of the stem, can solidify into asubstance that can only be removed with harsh chemicals that furthertarnish the stem. The same deleterious results can occur with greater orlesser effect in the hookah base. Hookah bases can be manufactured ofopulent materials that make replacement a non-option for a conventionalbudget. So much of the mess of hookah smoking results from the breakingdown, physical and chemical, of the massell.

The present invention combats the effects above by creating a “trap” forthe descending massell. The aperture network 112 is positioned above theshell, and more specifically, above the reservoir 150 of the shell 120.The reservoir 150 is a void contained, preferably wholly, within theshell 120 and includes a floor 124 and is bounded by a shell wall 122.Because the preferred aperture network 112 circularly traverses theplatform 110, the preferred void of the reservoir 150 circularlytraverses the shell 120. Previous attempts to combat unwanted masselldrippage utilizes a blistered aperture system that requires massellcomponents to be positioned at a substantial altitude in order to haveaccess to the physical apertures leading into the stem. Because gas,e.g. from ignited tobacco, has little to no trouble in negotiatingheights, the raised floor of such tobacco bowls had some good results.However, massell is adherent and can be formed into a ‘blob’ that hassubstantial altitude because the massell can be self-supporting andformed into shapes that position much of the massell over the raisedapertures. Massell is sold in volumes having a quantity that can resultin shapes that tower far above, relatively speaking, the raisedapertures. However, because blistered apertures have some good effect onthe solution offered by the present invention, the present invention canutilize raised apertures in concert with the features of the preferredembodiment to achieve a superior result.

From the drippings that descend into the shell 120, they then fall intothe reservoir 150 and preferably the floor 124. Because of the heightbetween the apertures 112 and the floor 124 that may exist in somehookah bowls, drippage may accrue on the wall 122 or the spire 140 asthe falling massell constituents achieve a horizontal vector componentbecause of motioning of the hookah, slanted surfaces, etc. The floor 124circumscribes a central spire 140, in some embodiments, that projectswell above the floor 124 to provide the dry smoke aperture 142 thatserves as the entry point for dry smoke entering the hookah stem.

The spire 140 of the present invention in the preferred embodimentresults in a hollow cylindrical component raised above the shellinterior floor 124. The sides of the spire 140 position the entry to thedry smoke aperture 142 in a position whereby smoke is unlikely to enterby gravity-induced motion. Here, the aperture positions and size, aswell as the spire position and size (and the shape and dimensions of thedry smoke aperture) prevent massell constituents from dripping into thespire 140. The preferred size of the apertures is approximately five mmand are separated across a center line from another aperture spanning adistance of approximately 20-30 mm. This 20-30 mm is location of theinner platform floor 106 and the space between the apertures and thefence 102 (or other outer perimeter) of the bowl constitutes theplatform outer floor 104. The aperture complex includes apertures thathave a cross-section that is less than the cross-section of thereservoir 150, so that drippings that travel directly downward fallsquarely in the reservoir. In other words, if the aperture network wereprojected directly downward, no part of the projection would contact anypart of the shell 120 other than the reservoir floor 124. Naturally,this expresses a preferred construction and it is a matter preference asto whether drippings fall directly the reservoir floor 124 or whether itcontacts the exterior of the spire 140 or the shell wall 122 beforefalling to the reservoir floor 124. The significant feature is thatdrippings do not enter the dry smoke aperture 142 because of theconstruction of the shell components. The shell wall 122 is preferably avertical component that extends almost entirely to the lower portions ofthe platform 110.

Although drippings may be caught in the reservoir 150, and preferablyretained on the reservoir floor 124, the smoke that descends into thereservoir 150 has no such restraint. The smoke from the platform 110descends through the aperture network 112 into the reservoir 150, andthen back upwards to the apex of the spire 140 for entry into the spire140 and the dry smoke aperture 142. The higher the spire 140 rises, thelower the likelihood that tobacco constituents can access the dry smokeaperture 142. So, it is preferred that the spire rise at least 25% ofthe distance between the reservoir floor 124 and the platform 110. Thepreferred distance is a spire height of 70-95% of the distance betweenthe reservoir floor 124 and the platform 110.

The central concern is that drippings are shielded from entering ahookah stem and a hookah base at the earliest point possible, and in amanner whereby the drippings can be removed readily and without damageto the more expensive, sensitive components of a hookah. The spire 140is intended to be the entry point from the bowl into the stem, andtherefore the spire is an ideal point for blocking sizable physicalmaterials from entering the stem. However, the spire need not be thesole means for preventing the influx of sizable particles. As shown inthe embodiment of FIGS. 1-13, the spire is accompanied by a barrier 180descending from the platform 110. The barrier wall 182 serves as anobstruction that prevents lateral motioning of fallingdrippings/particles into the spire 150.

Particles do not necessarily fall vertically. Often there is ahorizontal component. A spire that is centrally positioned in the shell120, and wholly within a projection of the aperture network 112, maystill receive particles, particularly lighter particles (because theyare more affected by air) coupled with a spire 140 that is positionedcloser to the reservoir floor 124. The likely position of a fallingparticle is not linear, but rather a statistical average that resemblesa cone in three dimensions or a triangle in two dimensions. So a barrier180 that descends, and is positioned within a downward projection of theaperture network 112, should be positioned exterior to an upwardprojection of the spire 140. In some cases, it may even be advantageousto have a barrier with a lower position that is positioned beneath anupper position of the spire 140. Essentially, the barrier 180 overlapsthe spire 140 such that smoke is required to undergo a highly serpentinepath to enter the dry smoke aperture 142, see in particularly FIG. 6.

The preferred barrier 180 is positioned within the aperture network 112,but outside of the spire 140. The barrier may be physically affixed tothe platform and bear a shape similar to that of the spire. Thepreferred barrier hangs downward occupying a distance of less than 50%of the distance between the reservoir floor 124 and the platform 110.

The preferred reservoir 150 is sized and shaped to house a spire 140, abarrier 180, and flanks the spire. There are, however, reservoirs 150that may be ideally centrally-positioned with an annular spire 150 thatis positioned directly below the platform outer floor 104. The depictedembodiment is preferred because centrally positioning fluid flowcomponents make for simpler manufacturing and cleaning. The preferredreservoir 150 is wholly sectioned off from direct exposure to theexterior environment, such that access to the reservoir must be indirectthrough by way of the apertures within platform and through the spire.

The reservoir leads to the spire which in turn leads to the dry smokeaperture 142. The dry smoke aperture 142 is the starting point of thedry smoke's descent into the stem. The dry smoke aperture should bealigned with the dry smoke conduit of the stem, or to whatever componentthe bowl is affixed. The bowl 100 is generally affixed by its port 160.The particular means of affixation is not a necessary part of thepresent invention, and any means of affixation capable of retaining thehookah bowl in place will suffice. For Lebanese hookahs, it is preferredthat a rubber gasket affix the outside of a stem to the interior of thehookah stem port. For Egyptian hookahs, it is preferred that the outsideof the stem bear an elastic grommet that affixes the exterior of thebowl to the interior of the hookah stem. In either event the base of thebowl, either the inner lower portion or outer lower portion, serves asthe connection point, i.e., port, for the hookah bowl. As previouslydiscussed, the port 160 may be internal in Lebanese hookah embodiments,as shown in FIGS. 1-13, or external as is common in Egyptian hookah asshown in FIGS. 14-18. The port 160 is at some portion beneath the apexof the spire.

Turning now to FIGS. 14-18, the present invention may be fashioned in anEgyptian embodiment and utilize a spire 140 with a peripheral inlets146. The spire 140 can be a unitary structure, or for purposes ofcleaning, can be separable. The spire 140 depicted in FIGS. 14-18 isboth separable and includes peripheral inlets 146. Because drippingtobacco constituents originating from the platform 102 of the bowl 100will in the overwhelming majority of circumstances will have a greatervertical velocity than downward velocity, entry to the dry smokeaperture 142 of the spire 140 may be advantageously positioned on theside of the spire. In the depicted embodiment, the spire 140 includesmultiple inlets 146 positioned near the apex of the spire 140. Because,as previously mentioned, the statistical trajectory of fallingparticulates is conical, a higher placement of inlets decreases thelikelihood that particulates can enter the spire. It is even morepreferred that the inlets be oriented with a downward slant, asconsidered from the center to the sidewall of the spire, such that theportion of the inlet 146 facing the reservoir 150 is positioned beneaththe portion of the inlet facing the dry smoke aperture 142. It ispreferred that the inlets are positioned above the middle point of thespire 140, and to the extent that the spire includes a removable, upperspire cap 144, it is preferred that the inlets 146 are positioned on thespire cap 144.

The spire cap 144 can be removable from the spire proper such that boththe upper and lower portions of the dry smoke aperture 142 can becleaned—particularly in embodiments where the platform 110 is removablefrom the shell 120. In embodiments where the platform 110 can beseparated from the shell 120, multiple means of fasteners may beutilized. Preferred embodiments utilize a combination of threading andpressure-fit seals 130. Downward radial actuation of the threadedplatform upon the threaded shell deforms the seal 130 to form anair-tight fit that also results in an interference fit that maintainsthe platform upon the shell. In other embodiments, the platform andshell may be joined entirely by the seal 130.

Turning now to FIGS. 19-24, the present invention may further include abifurcated full platform embodiment 100 that includes the platform 110and shell 120 of the present invention, yet the platform 110 containsthe entire outer periphery of the reservoir 150. The present inventionin all embodiments positions a spire 140 holding the dry smoke conduit142 beneath the platform floor 105, whether including an inner floor 106and outer floor 106 or not, and within a downward projection of theplatform apertures 112. One benefit of the full platform embodiment 100is that the portion of the bowl occupied by the platform constituteswhat is generally considered as the visible portion of the bowl. Theplatform 110 of the full platform can be entirely manufactured of aninexpensive ceramic or other decorative material. The shell 120 can bemanufactured entirely of a durable metal. Therefore, the platform 110can be entirely of one material capable of close contact with fire andhigh temperatures, while the shell 120 can be entirely manufactured of amaterial suited to close contact with smoke. Platforms 110 can berepeatedly replaced as the situation arises, while the shell 120 can bemaintained, perhaps even for life. The preferred embodiment is asdepicted whereby the shell 120 is constructed entirely of one material,but nonetheless utilizes regular exterior features 170, shown here ascircumscribing, protruding rings, and the platform is constructed almostentirely of a ceramic with a metal lower that serves two functions: toemulate the regular features 170 that are on both the shell 120 andplatform 110, and to permit effective attachment of the shell to theplatform.

The platform 110 of the full platform embodiment bears the entire outerperiphery of the reservoir 150. The platform outer wall 116 forms theperiphery of the reservoir below the portion of the platform beneath theplatform floor 105 or outer floor 104 to the portion of the platformouter wall adjacent to the shell floor 124. In the present embodiment,the shell floor 124 is merely the portion of the shell that is closestto a platform subfloor 114 which is a portion of the platform generallyhorizontal on the lowest part of the platform. The inner boundary of thereservoir 150 is bounded entirely by the spire wall 145 of the spire140. The preferred spire 140 includes a sidewall 145 having twodirections, a lower vertical portion and an upper angled portion.Because horizontal travel of dripping massell components is greatertowards the lower ends of the reservoir 150, angling is more importanttowards the upper portion of the spire 140. The lower portion of thespire 140, and in particular the vertical portions, have a ribbedexterior with spire cavities 148 that retain massell drippings. Becausethe massell portions entering the reservoir typically includes a highlyviscous fluid that upon reaching room temperature can solidify. Uponsolidification, the gel can adhere to the spire to prevent dislocationat portions adjacent to the spire. The shell subfloor 114 supports thelower portion of the viscous liquid at rest, and in the full platformembodiment, the lower horizontal portion of the reservoir may largely beassociated with the platform rather than the shell 110.

The spire 140 can include a shoulder 147 with a different outer diameterthan the spire 140 that penetrates the platform 110. The spire shoulder147 is meant to provide support to the platform during its affixation tothe shell—in addition to threading. The shoulder 147 can include theregular, exterior features 170. The interior of the spire sidewall 145is preferably a continuously smooth surface from the shoulder 147 tointerior portions above the shoulder 147. Such allows the interior ofthe spire to accommodate the upper portions of a hookah stem.

The platform 110 and the shell 120 of the present invention can beconnected in any manner conceivable for the indefinite retention betweenthe two components. As is shown in earlier figures, the means ofaffixation can be a pressure-fit seal. As is shown in later figures,e.g., FIG. 24, the affixation means includes threading. In otherembodiments, the platform 110 and shell 120 may be permanently affixedto form an integral component.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versionswould be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not belimited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hookah bowl comprising: a bowl tobacco platformdefining a platform floor a substantially radial platform aperturenetwork flanking a central solid portion, with a platform sidewalldefining a reservoir, positioned directly below said aperture networkfrom said platform floor to a platform base; and a bowl shell defining(i) an integral central spire constituted of a spire sidewall, extendingadjacently from said platform base toward said platform floor andpositioned centrally between a projection of said aperture network,defining a dry smoke aperture, and (ii) a hookah stem contact portbeneath said spire; and wherein said reservoir includes an outerperiphery formed exclusively by said platform and an inner peripheryformed exclusively by said shell.
 2. The bowl of claim 1 wherein saidshell includes a shell shoulder, below said shell spire, having a spirediameter less than a shell diameter of said shell shoulder.
 3. The bowlof claim 2 wherein said shell spire sidewall includes an interiorsurface continuous from said shoulder to said spire.
 4. The bowl ofclaim 2 wherein said bowl shell is separable from said tobacco platform.5. The bowl of claim 4 wherein said bowl shell is separable from saidtobacco platform proximate to said shoulder.
 6. The bowl of claim 1wherein said bowl shell is separable from said tobacco platform.
 7. Thebowl of claim 6 wherein including repeating and exterior surfacefeatures positioned on both said shell and said bowl platform.
 8. Thehookah bowl of claim 1 further comprising a barrier wall descending fromsaid platform into said peripheral reservoir.
 9. The hookah bowl ofclaim 8 wherein said barrier wall descends below an apex of said spire.10. The hookah bowl of claim 1 wherein said spire extends at least 50%of a height of said peripheral reservoir.
 11. The hookah bowl of claim10 wherein said spire extends at least 75% of a height of saidperipheral reservoir.
 12. The hookah bowl of claim 1 wherein said radialplatform aperture network is a raised radial platform aperture network.13. The hookah bowl of claim 1 wherein said spire sidewall includes aninward slant.
 14. The hookah bowl of claim 13 wherein said spireincludes exterior cavities circumscribing said spire.
 15. A hookah bowlcomprising: a bowl tobacco platform defining a platform floor asubstantially radial platform aperture network flanking a central solidportion, with a platform sidewall defining a reservoir, positioneddirectly below said aperture network from said platform floor to aplatform base; and a bowl shell, removably affixed to said platform,defining (i) an integral central spire constituted of a spire sidewall,extending adjacently from said platform base toward said platform floorand positioned centrally between a projection of said aperture network,defining a dry smoke aperture, (ii) a hookah stem contact port beneathsaid spire; and wherein said reservoir includes an outer peripheryformed exclusively by said platform and an inner periphery formedexclusively by said shell, (iii) a shell shoulder, below said shellspire, having a spire outer diameter less than a shell outer diameter ofsaid shell shoulder; and (iv) a spire interior surface continuous fromsaid shoulder to said spire.
 16. The hookah bowl of claim 15 whereinsaid reservoir includes an outer periphery formed exclusively by saidplatform and an inner periphery formed exclusively by said shell.
 17. Ahookah bowl comprising: a bowl tobacco platform defining a platformfloor a substantially radial platform aperture network flanking acentral solid portion, with a platform sidewall defining a reservoir,positioned directly below said aperture network from said platform floorto a platform base; and a bowl shell, separable from said platform,defining (i) an integral central spire constituted of a spire sidewall,extending adjacently from said platform base toward said platform floorand positioned centrally between a projection of said aperture network,defining a dry smoke aperture, and (ii) a hookah stem contact portbeneath said spire.
 18. The hookah bowl of claim 17 wherein saidreservoir includes an outer periphery formed exclusively by saidplatform and an inner periphery formed exclusively by said shell.